RockStar Resources formed to advance metals projects

COEUR d'ALENE - Former Coeur d'Alene Mines CEO Dennis E. Wheeler has been named chairman of RockStar Resources, a new private Coeur d'Alene-based company formed to advance precious metals projects into production with financial and permit support.

"The current metals environment has created a unique opportunity to help many smaller excellent mining projects which are currently on hold because of lack of financing or delays in the progress of the permitting process, which are often the most difficult and time-consuming tasks in getting a mine into production," Wheeler said.

"RockStar Resources brings a combined 125 years of mining expertise in advancing some of the most challenging projects in the world into production. Our new company's management has a solid track record of results, and we look forward to creating value during this time of great opportunity in the marketplace."

RockStar Resources, Inc. is led by a team of mining professionals with experience in national and international mining management, operations, geology and environmental and governmental permitting and compliance.

Wheeler, former chairman, president and CEO of Coeur d'Alene Mines Corporation, led Coeur as CEO for 25 years. He helped create an international silver and gold company with mines on three continents.

Wheeler resigned from Coeur in July 2011.

Wheeler is joined by other executives who have helped permit, build and operate mines in North and South America over the past 25 years, including K. Leon Hardy, president and CEO of RockStar.

Hardy is a geological engineer who over his 30-year career has managed mines and developed mining projects in challenging environments, including southern Argentina, the Andes in Bolivia, southeast Alaska and the Sierra Madre Mountains of Mexico.

Robert "Rick" Richins, executive vice president of Environmental Compliance, is an environmental and governmental affairs expert who has won several national and international mining awards. Richins was instrumental in the multi-year permitting at the Kensington Gold Mine in Alaska.